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I Am Trying To Find The Cause Of My Diarrhea
Question: I am trying to find the cause of my diarrhea, yesterday. I had a normal breakfast at home around 7 a.m., bacon and eggs. Lunch about 1100, Schlotskys a small original with pepperoni, chopped lettuce, tomato and cheese, a kind of slaw and sourdough bread, a sandwich that I eat regularly with no problem. About 1:30 I had severe diarrhea. My question is, can one experience distress two hours after a meal? Or does it take longer. I was in a hospital environment from around 1000 till 1100. So what was the cause of my diarrhea? Afterward I took one Imodium and since had no problems.
Brief Answer:
Yes, bacterial gastroenteritis can cause symptoms in 2 hours.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice,
A variety of foods, particularly rice and leftovers contains bacillus cereus. Egg contains lots of Clostridium difficile if its old or adulterated. Another one in poultry is Campylobacter jejuni which again may cause symptoms in an hour of ingestion.
Escherichia coli is a very notorious strain and remains in hospital atmosphere and is very easily transferable.
The difference in time is very accurate you had food at 11 and 7 a.m and first loose stool is at 1:30 pm the difference in time is about 2 to 6 hours (perfect time for bacteria to grow) so very likely either bread or vegetable or egg etc have some contamination of bacteria causing initial symptom of gastroenteritis but as concentration of bacterium was low a single dose of Imodium controlled it.
However, if you want to know which bacteria was exactly involved go for stool culture and sensitivity test. Chances are that some culprit bacterial colonies are still there.
To sum up it was very likely biological contamination which means that the food you eat was contaminated by bacteria and germs.
Hope I was helpful.
Feel free to follow up!
Thanks
Yes, bacterial gastroenteritis can cause symptoms in 2 hours.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice,
A variety of foods, particularly rice and leftovers contains bacillus cereus. Egg contains lots of Clostridium difficile if its old or adulterated. Another one in poultry is Campylobacter jejuni which again may cause symptoms in an hour of ingestion.
Escherichia coli is a very notorious strain and remains in hospital atmosphere and is very easily transferable.
The difference in time is very accurate you had food at 11 and 7 a.m and first loose stool is at 1:30 pm the difference in time is about 2 to 6 hours (perfect time for bacteria to grow) so very likely either bread or vegetable or egg etc have some contamination of bacteria causing initial symptom of gastroenteritis but as concentration of bacterium was low a single dose of Imodium controlled it.
However, if you want to know which bacteria was exactly involved go for stool culture and sensitivity test. Chances are that some culprit bacterial colonies are still there.
To sum up it was very likely biological contamination which means that the food you eat was contaminated by bacteria and germs.
Hope I was helpful.
Feel free to follow up!
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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